Braves to add Sherrill as third lefty reliever
ORLANDO — Left-hander George Sherrill had a bloated 6.69 ERA in a career-worst season for the Dodgers in 2010, but there was a reason the Braves and others including Philadelphia wanted the free-agent reliever.
It’s because the former Baltimore closer remained effective against left-handed hitters. Despite his .311 overall opponents’ average in 2010, Sherrill limited lefties to a .192 average. During the previous three years, they hit a puny .156 against him.
The Braves and Sherrill agreed to terms Wednesday on a $1.2 million contract, pending a physical exam. It was previously thought that the stocky veteran was leaning toward signing with the Phillies. The Orioles were among his other suitors.
“He’s a very effective guy against lefties,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said of Sherrill, who will be 34 in April. “His numbers early in the season obviously weren’t as good [as they have been in the past]; he had 52 saves in ‘08 and ‘09.
“He performed at a much higher rate in those years, and we felt like he made some good strides in the second half of ‘10.”
Sherrill had 31 saves in an All-Star season with Baltimore in 2008, and a 1.70 ERA in 72 appearances with the Orioles and Dodgers in 2009. His performance slipped precipitously in 2010.
He gives the Braves a third lefty in the bullpen, along with Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty. Unlike those two, Sherrill isn’t likely to be used for full innings at a time. Not anymore.
At this point of his career, the fewer right-handers he faces, the better off he and the Braves are likely to be.
Sherrill totaled 112-1/3 innings in 129 appearances over two seasons with the Orioles and Dodgers. In 2010, he pitched just 36-1/3 innings in 65 innings.
While lefties hit .192 with a .574 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) in 73 at-bats against him, right-handers torched him at a .427/1.123 rate in 75 at-bats.
During 2007-2009, he was devastating against lefties (.156/.468), but also effective against righties (.242/.711).
He struggled mightily in the first half last season, allowing 31 hits, 17 walks and 18 earned runs in 21-2/3 innings through July 19. Sherrill fared better the rest of the way, allowing 15 hits, seven walks and nine runs in 14-2/3 innings over his final 28 appearances.
“He’s got the good breaking ball, and he’s one of those guys that just goes right after [hitters],” Wren said. “He knows how to get guys out.”
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166 comments Add your comment
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
5:40 pm
DOB, was Sherrill’s closing experience something that made him more attractive than other lefties on the market?
Tobi
December 8th, 2010
5:40 pm
Thanks Frank Wren.
Puma
December 8th, 2010
5:40 pm
***But in 2010, he pitched just 36-1/3 innings in 65 innings.
I assume you meant 65 appearances.
Puma
December 8th, 2010
5:41 pm
or maybe not now that I think about it, that’s just pitching to a bunch of lefties, or maybe not getting anyone out
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
December 8th, 2010
5:42 pm
He’s a one out lefty killer and that’s how the Braves will utilize his abilities. So ignore the bloated 6.69 ERA.
chris
December 8th, 2010
5:43 pm
man, having george sherrill as your 3rd lefty option, let alone your LOOGY in the pen, is really nice
Coach (2011 and Fredi G. a GO!)
December 8th, 2010
5:45 pm
And I should add, right hander’s hit .427 off him while lefties hit .192 last year. Like I said before, lefty killer….one out specialist.
Buffet Buster
December 8th, 2010
5:47 pm
Metro Atlanta eateries beware of big George’s legendary appetite! Reminds one of Terry Forster.
milesarcher33
December 8th, 2010
5:52 pm
What’s going on with Peter Moylan? Anybody know?
Rusty
December 8th, 2010
5:52 pm
Enter your comments here
o-me
December 8th, 2010
5:53 pm
Darn not what the fans expected……….
Ted Turner
December 8th, 2010
5:54 pm
His job is to get Utley and Howard out. Then go sit in the dugout before devouring the post game spread.
Rusty
December 8th, 2010
5:55 pm
Solid pick up. With Venters maybe getting closing time. A guy that is shut down against lefties just adds to a already great bullpen.
Supes
December 8th, 2010
5:56 pm
I don’t know…that’s over a million bucks for a one guy situational lefty? Plus who is to say he’s going to “rebound” from his season with the Dodgers…I watched him pitch a few times and he didn’t look good at all.
Oxford Braves fan
December 8th, 2010
6:01 pm
Most folks don’t make 1.2 mil for a lifetime of work, and this guy gets it, but can’t be trusted for a whole inning? I’ll still be watching on tv.
Donnnie
December 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
The Braves just love to waste money.
Einsteindawg
December 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
Come on Braves…quit playing “Bobby Ball”! The days of righty-righty, lefty-lefty ended when Claude Ramond’ retired. Why not hire an effective reliever that can just throw strikes. Just sayin’……….
Buffet Buster
December 8th, 2010
6:08 pm
Good luck to Matt Diaz in Pittsburgh!
DHD
December 8th, 2010
6:10 pm
Oxford…this is not a Socialist nation. At least not yet.
Dominic
December 8th, 2010
6:11 pm
Terrible. you’re paying a guy $1.2M, his strong point is that he’s good against lefties, which translated into 10 walks in 20 IP.
Daren in Utah
December 8th, 2010
6:11 pm
Ted Turner: “His job is to get Utley and Howard out. ”
You beat me to it! If Sherrill can accomplish this, he’ll have earned his salary and the Braves win the East.
J-Man
December 8th, 2010
6:12 pm
There is a risk of course but his numbers against lefties make him a risk worth taking. We do have Venters and O’Flairity so all he is really is a lefty specialist.
So the BP as it is now:
Venters CP/ Setup
Kimbrell CP/ set-up
Linebrink Set-up/7th inning
O’Flairity Lefty specialist/ 6th-7th inning
Moylan Righty specialist/ 6th-7th inning
Sherrill Lefty Specialist
Beechy Long Relief/ 5th starter
Minor Long Relief/ 5th starter
LOOGY woogy
December 8th, 2010
6:12 pm
[...] Braves to add Sherrill as third lefty reliever [...]
RockytopATL
December 8th, 2010
6:13 pm
This is yet another bargain basement pickup the Braves are willing to gamble small dollars on. Most teams would look at the overall numbers and think this guy is done, but the Braves see a ray of hope. To give credit where credit is due, they’ve been right often enough to trust ‘em on this.
Trey
December 8th, 2010
6:15 pm
Oh, whoopty doo.
BravesFanSince66
December 8th, 2010
6:16 pm
Go Frankie! I like his aggressiveness to better our chances. I hated to see Matt Diaz and Omar go, but I like what we got in return. You have no idea how contrasting Wren’s style is compared to ’70’s & ’80’s when all we could do is “HOPE for next year”, again, and again, and again…
Einsteindawg
December 8th, 2010
6:16 pm
Rockytop, you may be right; however, I wish the Braves would address the root problem rather than continue to try a treat the symptoms. Of course with TV money, it’s easy to waste a few million here and there.
AdirondackDave
December 8th, 2010
6:16 pm
Looks like a useful pickup to me. If he sees 10 righthanders all season I’d be surprised.
RM
December 8th, 2010
6:18 pm
Right on, Rockytop.
chris
December 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
Donnie- you are mistaking the braves with the US government system
White Mike
December 8th, 2010
6:21 pm
I think they are paying him more not to play in Philly. Heyward, McCann, Freeman all lefties. He may have been another JC Romero for the Phils if they got him.
Naf Sevarb
December 8th, 2010
6:31 pm
Kids this is a great signing. If he comes in and strikes out Howard and Utley in key games he is worth the dough.
chris
December 8th, 2010
6:31 pm
very true White Mike.
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
6:33 pm
Einsteindawg,
There’s still a lot of managers that try to match up based on lefty or righty. And LHP sure killed our lineup last year.
Bobby
December 8th, 2010
6:34 pm
nice cheap pickup, i feel like he was misused in LA
Dirk
December 8th, 2010
6:34 pm
I like the deal. But what are we going to do in the pen next year. Tim Collins and Mike Dunn would be great for the long haul.
Bobby
December 8th, 2010
6:35 pm
and a situational lefty is very important…..like javier lopez for the giants in the playoffs
ryan c
December 8th, 2010
6:38 pm
naysayers beware…shocking stats ahead…
sherrill’s career line against lhb: .167ba .235obp .500ops
b. wag’s career line against lhb: .189ba .262 obp .519ops
dirk, i think worrying about the braves pitching in 2012 is…well, ridiculous. here are about 14 reasons:
1. kimbrel 2. venters 3. o’flaherty 4. lowe 5. hudson 5. jurrjens 6. hanson 7. minor 8. beachy 9. medlen 10. moylan 11. teheran 12. delgado 13. vizcaino 14. marek
ShakeWeightSally
December 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
Nice addition! He should rebound in Atlanta as he will be used in the right situations, unlike in LA.
Another veteran to help mentor our young studs Venters and Kimbrell. Spot on Wren!
JD
December 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
how about spend some money on th OUT FIELD jaysus
Agent Smith
December 8th, 2010
6:43 pm
We know where you are Mr.Anderson. You can’t hide inside the ajc matrix.
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
6:43 pm
Dirk,
Well, we will have all of KK and McLouth’s salaries off the books. Plus, we still should have Kimbrel, Venters, EOF and Marek, who should break into the ‘pen this year, as well as Martinez. Especially if Medlen goes back to the ‘pen, that’s a very good core to start from. We’ll see how Collins develops, but he was pretty much sacrificed for not much. Infante and Dunn for Uggla is still a bargain, though.
912 Dawg
December 8th, 2010
6:50 pm
Any ideas on who the Braves are looking at for the left field position?
JoshTown
December 8th, 2010
6:52 pm
Ummmm. Prado.
Dawg in TN
December 8th, 2010
6:53 pm
Dump KK to the highest bidder!!
Mitchell
December 8th, 2010
7:01 pm
George Sherrill can bring it. This is awesome but not as awesome as Billy Wagner deciding to unretire and come back for 2011.
Sherrill is a legit reliever, we already know how good Kimbrel and Venters are but having to say goodbye to Wags is still tough.
I wish he would come back one more year. Pretty please?
Riding the Pines
December 8th, 2010
7:04 pm
We need a situational speedster. Someone with some jets. Willie Wilson type.
sidslidkid
December 8th, 2010
7:06 pm
“Any ideas on who the Braves are looking at for the left field position?”
Carl Crawford. Not sure who’s going to catch or play RF though.
Smack
December 8th, 2010
7:09 pm
Riding the Pines, that is what Matt Young hopefully provide the Braves next year. His engine is always running full bore. Hustles and plays harder than anyone else on the field, consistantly.
dpelfrey
December 8th, 2010
7:10 pm
Good signing. It’s nice that the Braves can afford to pay $1.2M for a guy who will have twice as many appearances as he has innings pitched. Well done Frank Wren. Now just find that utility guy that can play short and let’s call it a winter.
And good for Sherrill, realizing his niche in baseball no longer includes facing right-handed hitters. Most guys in his situation would probably have held out waiting for a team to make an offer for him at a full-inning 7th/8th guy. Good for him.
912 Dawg
December 8th, 2010
7:15 pm
that’s right, i forgot about Prado’s switch to left field. Anybody think Wren will make another move for a bat?
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
7:17 pm
dpelfrey,
You would think most guys would get the picture after righties lit him up the way they did last year. But, you’re right, in the face of overwhelming evidence, a lot of players don’t. I just hope Fredi realizes he’s a LOOGY too.
BRAVES FANATICUS
December 8th, 2010
7:17 pm
LORENZO CAIN !
jkreeves
December 8th, 2010
7:18 pm
DOB, what is Wren’s take on the long relief role??? Will he take the guy that loses out on the 5th spot between Minor and Beechy???? Or will C. Martinez compete for the role????
Any chance of a veteran 5th starter type, or is that the projection as it stands????
Oh Nah!
December 8th, 2010
7:19 pm
Wow…in a bad way! I watched this guy stink it up with the Doyers last season. He was part of the reason I made money fading Los Doyers!!!!! Not a good signing in my opinion. Bob Wickman part Deux…from the left side. You heard it from me….no good go home.
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
7:20 pm
Not for a significant bat. We’re looking for a back-up middle IF and a 4th OF who can play CF, and we may address those needs with guys who are already in the organization. I’d be pretty surprised if the Braves make a major splash the rest of the offseason.
T-Bone
December 8th, 2010
7:22 pm
I still think that we can find a serviceable LF. Then we make A-Gonz the super-utility guy (and we’re going to need one with Chipper’s track record) and keep both Prado and Uggs as starters in the infield. And I really believe that McClouth is going to surprise us. He won’t have a monster year, but he is going to make a comeback. And so is Shafer. (Of course, I also believe that I’m going to win the lottery.)
Mattatrab
December 8th, 2010
7:25 pm
Ok but im sorry Hicks,Diory and conrad are not gonna cut it for the bench. We need Cain and really another backup If guy.
Mattatrab
December 8th, 2010
7:26 pm
After what happened in the postseason why is conrad even still on the team?
fredi da man
December 8th, 2010
7:28 pm
Man, there are alot of knuckleheaded comments on this post… yea Carl Crawford and we still need a catcher and RF….please take your meds before commenting….
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
7:29 pm
jkreeves,
The ‘pen should be set at this point. I expect Kimbrel, Venters, Linebrink, EOF, Moylan, Proctor and Sherrill to make the ‘pen out of ST. Martinez and Marek will be in the minors in case someone gets injured, struggles, etc. Whoever loses out on the 5th starter spot will probably be in AAA so he can be stretched out in case one of the starters go down. From the group that will likely make the ‘pen, I would guess Proctor will be the long reliever/last guy out of the ‘pen.
wjones
December 8th, 2010
7:30 pm
“Mattatrab
December 8th, 2010
7:26 pm
After what happened in the postseason why is conrad even still on the team?”
Well, Mr. Short Attention Span, without Conrad we don’t make the playoffs. We got in by one game. How many games did Conrad win with his bat during the season?
lee
December 8th, 2010
7:30 pm
i know we are talking about sherrill here , which i think is a good pick up for the braves for the price. he was making over 4 mil right? changing the subject for a second, has anyone head anything else about Baltimore’s talks with the Braves about KK? head that talks between the two teams were getting more serious now!!
Mattatrab
December 8th, 2010
7:31 pm
I saw Trade Proctor for Martinez and then pen is then done.
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
7:31 pm
fredi da man,
I believe that was sarcasm in response to 912 Dawg’s question about who’s in left.
Mattatrab
December 8th, 2010
7:33 pm
@wjones no player plays as bad as conrad did and still get paychecks at the end of the day. I dont care if he hit 50 HRs and 100rbi during the season.
sidslidkid
December 8th, 2010
7:34 pm
fredi da man,
that was sarcasm… I was laying it on pretty thick. The dude asked who our left fielder is going to be.
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
7:34 pm
Mattatrab,
Ever seen Adam Dunn play defense? Or Ryan Klesko? Hell, especially when he first came up, watching Klesko play LF was like watching a circus act.
Oasisbraves
December 8th, 2010
7:36 pm
Mattatrab….Conrad was a third string defensive guy who may have had no business starting in the playoffs but injuries forced it. Conrads bat off the bench certainly helped us win quite a few ballgames last year.
Tomahawk
December 8th, 2010
7:37 pm
“After what happened in the postseason why is conrad even still on the team?”
You did watch the regular season, right? The Braves wouldnt have made it to the postseason if it weren’t for Conrad. The guy never should’ve been playing defense. He’s a good pinch hitter that will be owed very little money next year. That’s why he’s on the team. “What happened in the postseason” has more to do with bad managing than anything else.
Goldenglove002
December 8th, 2010
7:37 pm
Solid pickup, way too much money though. I feel like the Braves are overspending on back of the ‘pen relievers between Linebrink, Proctor and Sherrill.
Mattatrab
December 8th, 2010
7:38 pm
I dont care if you are on the bench or starting at the very least every guy on the Major league team should be able to field balls and if not you need to be in the minors and replaced by someone who can play Major league level Defense.
jimmymack
December 8th, 2010
7:39 pm
thank you mr.wren ,now for that c.f that’s bat’s leadoff
Joe
December 8th, 2010
7:40 pm
I love that over hand curveball from Sherrill. It reminds me of a wiffleball game where you got a hitter that’s really aggressive and you have a great command of your curve and it just gets the hitter to bite at it before it reaches the strike zone.
sidslidkid
December 8th, 2010
7:41 pm
Mattatrab, get over it already. He’s a good bench player and will in all likelihood be around next year.
Mattatrab
December 8th, 2010
7:44 pm
By the way Ryan Kleskos problem was trying to make diving catches that he could never get to in a effort to make sports center. He cost the braves more games than he won for them
The Grinch
December 8th, 2010
7:49 pm
Y’all really ought to lay off Conrad; he didn’t make Bobby keep running him out there when he had the “yips.” He’s a hell of a good pinch hitter, and those don’t grow on trees at his salary.
Like the Sherrill signing. Now, if Schafer can just have a decent spring so we’re not subjected to McLouth all year, we should have a pretty good team.
The Grinch
December 8th, 2010
7:54 pm
Overpaying for the back end of the rotation? You do realize all three of those guys combined make less than Saito did last year, right? And that Kimbrel and Venters make a teenie, tiny fraction of what we paid Wagner?
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
7:55 pm
Who else was Bobby supposed to send out there? I’m pretty sure he went with the guy he trusted over little-used Diory, who hasn’t exactly torn the cover off the ball in the major league ABs he’s had.
Not saying Conrad should’ve been out there, but, with Chipper and Prado hurt, we really didn’t have good options. Or are you guys among those who think we should’ve had Infante at 2B and let Glaus make those errors at 3B?
The Grinch
December 8th, 2010
7:59 pm
Bullpen, not rotation; excuse me.
The Grinch
December 8th, 2010
8:05 pm
Not for a key at bat, GT Alum, but when a guy’s in THAT bad of a funk you absolutely send Diory out there defensively to start the 9th. Bobby ran Brooks out there symbolically after key at bats and that was awful sweet, but terrible strategy. Brooks knew it as well as anyone, and his body language and play suggested he’d much rather have been back in the dugout where he belonged until he could get his confidence back. I don’t see Freddie making those mistakes.
M10
December 8th, 2010
8:06 pm
Im still waiting on a move for an outfielder particularly Lorenzo Cain.
George
December 8th, 2010
8:11 pm
Another waste of money…we didn’t need a guy who can only get out lefties…especially for over a million dollars.
fsugolf8166
December 8th, 2010
8:15 pm
George
do you not relize that any vet in the major leagues is making over a million i think it is one helluva deal if it works out
GT Alum
December 8th, 2010
8:17 pm
Ahh, so you’re specifically referencing the error in game 3. Yeah, that would’ve been a good time for a defensive substitution. Sorry, I’ve even said that Bobby just wasn’t a terribly good in-game manager, but I just get tired of the folks whose philosophy seems to be blame Bobby any time something goes badly for the Braves. I thought you were one of those. Or one of the folks who kept saying, but Glaus was a gold glove 3B.
OldTimer
December 8th, 2010
8:19 pm
Wow, who wouldn’t be impressed.
dap01
December 8th, 2010
8:20 pm
A million dollars for a specialist is not a waste of money. Get a grip. Wren is actually putting together a complete team.
fsugolf8166
December 8th, 2010
8:23 pm
George
That is worth a crap and i think he is this could be and i think is one heck of a deal
Steve
December 8th, 2010
8:35 pm
Folks .. can you not get sarcasm. I am fairly certain Dirk was being sarcastic. While it could be said from his first sentence you weren’t sure .. his last sentence about Collins and Dunn are a dead give away to me. Either that or he knows precious little about baseball.
The Grinch
December 8th, 2010
8:39 pm
Not at all; Bobby was a fine manager in many respects and a great guy by any measure. But there were some tactical decisions that made me want to eat my remote. That said, even he was smart enough not to stick Glaus at 3rd more than in an absolute emergency. That guy’s knees were completely shot.
Chief Nock A Homa
December 8th, 2010
8:43 pm
Great pickup or specific lefty situations….
Johny Damon open to Atlanta… Wonder if his price could be right for that outfield spot??? That would be a huge pickup….
jonathan Simeone
December 8th, 2010
8:48 pm
This is a very good move. It’s a small amount of money for a guy who, at worst, will be a solid situational guy in the pen.
can'tspinthefans
December 8th, 2010
8:54 pm
You get what you pay for Mr Wren…your cheap players really turns the fans on!
tyler nj brave
December 8th, 2010
8:58 pm
sure glad mattatrab stopped commenting…there’s about 30 other teams that would love Conrad’s bat off the bench…he got thrown into starting in the playoffs due to injuries…the guy is clutch though
Name a more clutch pinch hitter last year..that’s what i thought
Any way you can block him from commenting DOB?
Innocent Bystander
December 8th, 2010
9:05 pm
Since when is 1/80th of our salary being spent on a lefty specialist really a bad thing?
fsugolf8166
December 8th, 2010
9:20 pm
some of yall people kill me what the f would yall be happy with please tell me pleae
fsugolf8166
December 8th, 2010
9:21 pm
Chief Nock A Homa
johnny damon open to atl where did you here that from
DawgDad
December 8th, 2010
9:23 pm
Good pickup.
In fainess to Bobby Cox you expect a major league infielder to at least field .500 on routine ground balls. Hey, I expect better than that in little league. And yes, wouldn’t mind having Conrad back on the bench.
fsugolf8166
December 8th, 2010
9:23 pm
im so freakin sick and tired of people bitchin our team is better
fsugolf8166
December 8th, 2010
9:27 pm
seriously some of you what do yall want crawford, lee, soriano back, and hall, and who else because the damn money isnt there. wren is doing the best that he can with the money he has be happy and quit bitchin
DawgDad
December 8th, 2010
9:29 pm
Keep in mind Lowe and Hudson are groundball pitchers and we’re going to have Uggla, Gonzalez, and Jones around the infield. A lot of basehits are going to get through next year.
fsugolf8166
December 8th, 2010
9:32 pm
DawgDad
can you see the future tell me what it looks like if not bequite because that was a stupid comment
josh
December 8th, 2010
9:50 pm
great addition!
Prospects! Prospects?
December 8th, 2010
10:22 pm
So the Braves are paying 1.2 mil for a situational lefty out of the pen? Righties KILLED Sherrill last year! No wonder they had to let Diaz walk. One more signing like this and they will have officially pizzed away the money they saved by letting Diaz go.
yogi2
December 8th, 2010
11:12 pm
I would like to see the Braves use the rule-5 draft tomorrow and draft an outfielder or infielder. there is plenty of room for a player on the team. The utility type players the Braves have are just career minor league players, nothing to brag about
Brave Hot Stover '79
December 8th, 2010
11:14 pm
Sherill and Linebrink could be nice depth pick ups or disastrous wastes of salary. Just hope we’re not trying to trade any young pitching prospects and their roles become larger. Is there any speculation that we’re upgrading on Mclouth?
gcs
December 9th, 2010
12:07 am
Wren quote: “We cannot afford to give Diaz $2 million. We have to go out and get us as many broken down has-been high-ERA middle relievers like Sherrill and Linebrink as we can!”
.
Washington Nationals front office
December 9th, 2010
12:28 am
We really dropped the ball on the Jayson Werth deal. $18 million a year we gave him when Carl Crawford got $20 million a year. D’oh!
gcs
December 9th, 2010
12:30 am
Wren’s ON and OFF-season:
* Dumped Melky, Saito, Derrek Lee, Glaus, Ankiel, Farnsworth = ON
* Re-upped Infante & Alex Gonzalez = ON
* Re-upped Scott Proctor = OFF (seriously, why are they hanging on to this 6 ERA bum?)
* Acquired Joe “The Beaver” Mather = OFF
* Traded for Uggla = ON
* Re-signed Hinske = ON
* Dumped Diaz = OFF
* Traded for Scott “7 Career Saves” Linebrink to tutor the young relievers = OFF
* Signed yet another 30-something high ERA George Sherrill = OFF
That’s four ON and five OFF. You are behind, Wren.
.
Dudep2
December 9th, 2010
1:03 am
Just wondering but now that the BoSox have Crawford what are the odds that they might start dangling Ellsbury as trade bait?
NO MORE BOBBY
December 9th, 2010
1:32 am
If Braves are going to load up on old people again might as well bring number 6 back. He loved the older players and I thought we were going to change things up. Seems like more of the same. Just another face as manager. I guess Braves are like being the President. Does not matter who it is because they really don’t have the power.
Wren = the devil.
SoCalBrave
December 9th, 2010
1:33 am
WOW! There are a lot of idiots comenting here… Sherrill for 1.2 mil is a great signing that works 2 ways: First, it’s a great weapon against the Phil’s lefties. Second, it prevented the Phils from signing him to use against out lefties.
SoCalBrave
December 9th, 2010
1:37 am
I’d like to thank Matty D. for not signing with the Phillies. THANKS MAN!
john
December 9th, 2010
2:18 am
Sherrill looks like wasted money, i qas looking to get solid closer, albert pujols, choo and lets play ball. who am i???.
Conyers Braves Fan
December 9th, 2010
5:17 am
All of these opinions about the Sherrill signing mean nothing. It has been done. He is a Brave now. The only thing any fan can do is wait and see what he does.
the real Old Gold
December 9th, 2010
6:25 am
Drop Chipper just like the Braves did with the great pitching Trio and get Crawford!
Braves in 2011
December 9th, 2010
7:03 am
Need to get rid of overpriced, under acheiving Nate Mcclouth and K.K.
mike
December 9th, 2010
7:09 am
i am excited,,,not
clint
December 9th, 2010
7:31 am
You’ve GOT to be kidding.
Let's Go
December 9th, 2010
7:36 am
The Braves got him so the Phillies wouldn’t. He can now come in to face Howard and Utley instead of being brought in to face Brian or Jason.
Let's Go
December 9th, 2010
7:37 am
the real Old Gold
Crawford is a Red Sox
curtis jones
December 9th, 2010
7:53 am
Pitching does indeed look good top to bottom, and best case scenario is bright. But worst case scenario scares the crap out of me. What if:
1. Freeman has a bad rookie year.
2. Uggla is a butcher at 2nd base
3. We get 2nd half Gonzalez at SS instead of first half Gonzalez
4. Chipper is out for his customary 60-100 games
5. Prado struggles in left
6. Nate McLouth. Enough said
7. Heyward has a sophomore slump
8. McCann tires again, and continues to be worst defensive C in baseball
Scary, I know.
Brave1
December 9th, 2010
7:58 am
GREAT work if you can get it. If he is coming in to get the ‘left out’, I bet his appearances are less than 50, making $1.2MM.
Where do I sign up?
fred
December 9th, 2010
8:18 am
braves have too many has been and will be on team. need some nows more!! fred in sc
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
8:24 am
Whew. Slow down, guys. Some of your comments are making me shoot coffee out my nose.
I hope that some of you will research salaries and see that just over $1M is not too bad for a veteran pitcher with an outstanding record against LH.
Another OF? I think the team is safe if they go into ST with what they’ve got. Lots of choices, with odds being at least one of them (if not two or three) will play well enough to contribute.
Backup IF? Wren said yesterday we could have our guy already in Lucas. He is interesting and I think the team is willing to see what he can do in ST before rushing out to snag someone else.
Trade KK and/or McLouth in salary dump? Well, let’s see. If only the Braves had thought of that… Some of you guys seem to think that all they have to do is wish for it and it comes true. If that were the case, we would trade McLouth for Pujols even and Cliff Lee would sign with us for a dollar.
Oh, and the post about “gee, what if every player on the team has one of their worst years ever?” Well, then, in that case, the Braves record won’t be too good, Captain MOTO.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother responding to kids who should really be in school doing classwork or at least making clay ashtrays for Dad for Christmas.
Steve
December 9th, 2010
8:34 am
Hate to see Matty D go he is a real class act and I am sure he will be back in a Braves uni one day again!
jason
December 9th, 2010
8:35 am
hedeki matsui makes alot of sense to sign.
Nut Job
December 9th, 2010
8:36 am
Einsteindawg
December 8th, 2010
6:07 pm
Come on Braves…quit playing “Bobby Ball”! The days of righty-righty, lefty-lefty ended when Claude Ramond’ retired. Why not hire an effective reliever that can just throw strikes. Just sayin’……….
Ummm, those days are not over. Every team in the big leagues has these guys that pitch to situational match ups. Just shows your lack of baseball knowledge. He is getting signed to get Utley and Howard out and allow Venters to be used as the 8th or 9th inning guy exclusively with Kimbrel.
STRETCH
December 9th, 2010
9:00 am
The Royals really love ex-Braves!
Royals Near Agreement With Melky Cabrera
By Luke Adams [December 9 at 7:47am CST]
7:47am: The deal appears close but not done, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
12:24am: Not content with signing just one ex-Brave today, the Royals are on the verge of adding another. Kansas City has reached an agreement with Melky Cabrera on a one-year contract worth $1.25, plus $250K in incentives, pending a physical. The deal represents the latest move in a busy offseason for ACES, Inc.
Cabrera, who earned $3.1MM in 2010, was released by the Braves following a disappointing campaign in which he hit just .255/.317/.354 in 509 plate appearances. The 26-year-old is arbitration eligible for the third time this year, but as a Super Two, he will be under team control for one more season, through 2012.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported that the two sides were closing in on a deal, while ESPNDeportes’ Enrique Rojas (via Twitter) confirmed the pact and added the financial terms.
coachx
December 9th, 2010
9:01 am
Kedos to Wren. He is not messing around with making this a complete roster BEFORE Spring Training.
All that is needed now is a utility infielder capable of playing SS. I love Conrad as a pinch hitter but he just can’t be the backup SS.
I like the young guys they have to compete for the CF position. I’m fine standing pat there.
Papadawg
December 9th, 2010
9:04 am
Fans are upset because Wren hasn’t signed any big name players. Big names don’t always win. See the Mets. Give me a group of blue collar players every day
Big Dude
December 9th, 2010
9:14 am
I’m glad Wren didn’t use my money to buy Sherrill
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
9:30 am
Twins select Scott Diamond from the Braves in Rule 5 draft
Unknown Hinson
December 9th, 2010
9:33 am
Alot of money but sounds like he could come in handy against the Phils later on. Glad they didn’t get him with our lefty heavy lineup.
Philly fan
December 9th, 2010
9:34 am
We’re shaking in our boots now!!!!!!!!!!
E-6
December 9th, 2010
9:41 am
Roster sounds complete unless Wren decides to add a utility infielder. Perhaps the Braves are comfortable with Hernandez in that role, but the Card’s Brenden Ryan would bring more to the table – if he can be had for a reasonable price. The Cards want to move him.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
9:46 am
E6, don’t forget about Lucas. Could be a stealth candidate.
E-6
December 9th, 2010
10:02 am
ramblin – You’re right. Most folks thought we would lose him in the Rule 5. But isn’t he mostly a 2B-3B type?
JeanE
December 9th, 2010
10:03 am
yawn.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
10:13 am
DOB spoke about Lucas in his 29 Nov blog. He’s played 2B, SS, 3B and OF.
bigdawg
December 9th, 2010
10:15 am
Nice pick up! BTW Luke Scott is an idiot of first order!
wjones
December 9th, 2010
10:15 am
“jason
December 9th, 2010
8:35 am
hedeki matsui makes alot of sense to sign”
No, Matsui is strictly a DH now. Remember in 2009 when the Yankees played us? He sat out all of the games because they were in Atlanta. We signed Hinske, who is a power bat off the bench, but can play corner OF and corner IF.
Chris from the Rock
December 9th, 2010
10:15 am
I love all of Wren’s moves so far this offseason. But he definitely needs to get a backup middle INF. I trust Hicks and Hernandez about as far as I can throw them.
Lotimus Pyle
December 9th, 2010
10:19 am
I guess we showed the Red Sox that we can play ball too. They get Adrian Gonzalez & Carl Crawford, but we got George Sherrill, so there!! Or was it Bob Sherrill? Well, anyway, we have Freeman and McClouth so we don’t need guys like Gonzalez and Crawford. All we need is a guy who can get situational leftys out (maybe) and we’ll be fine.
Chris from the Rock
December 9th, 2010
10:20 am
I’m not quite seeing the upside on this Cardenas guy they picked up the Rule 5 draft though. He was 22 in A ball last year with an ERA of 3.69 with 44 BBs in 63 IP.
Tami
December 9th, 2010
10:24 am
OK…HOW is this a good move? He already sounds like a short-relief KK. I guess we’ll see if he makes the team in spring training. I would have liked Wren to use that money elsewhere, though. This guy sounds more like a liability right now.
SeaAtl
December 9th, 2010
10:25 am
Good signing – good reliever with experience and a veteran in the bullpen. Braves have simply gotten better so far in the offseason – debate the moves all you want, this Braves team is better than last season’s. And so far the Phillies have NOT gotten better. Hard to by unhappy about any of this…..
Chris from the Rock
December 9th, 2010
10:26 am
Rowdy Hardy isn’t a very impressive Rule 5 pick either. A 28 year old in AA with an ERA of 3.44 with more hits surrendered than IP and only 6 K /IP. But it’s hard not to pull for a guy named Rowdy.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
10:28 am
go troll somewhere else, pyle
beachcomber
December 9th, 2010
10:34 am
SeaAtl – Very good point. The East Division has compressed this off season. The Phils have come back to the pack while the Nationals have improved. Don’t see the Marlins being any better and the Mets are still the Mets. Our biggest loss – that automatic guy at the end of the game has been offset by a whole lot more offense. Plus Kimbrel sure looked like the real deal late last year.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
10:44 am
From a quick look at their stats, both Cardenas and Hardy are converted relievers. Stats in the minors so rarely tell the whole story. I have faith in the Braves management and their scouts.
Jeff
December 9th, 2010
10:56 am
Hardy is a lefty and his number’s vs. lefties tell the story: 1.67 ERA, 32.1 inning, 5 BB, 32 SO, .214 BAA. It seems he is great against lefties, but quite bad against righties. So the Braves see him as at least a lefty specialist a la their recent signing Sherrill.
Reid in EAV
December 9th, 2010
11:27 am
Yay for the LOOGY. Hopefully he doesn’t put us in hock.
bostonbravo
December 9th, 2010
11:45 am
this ‘deal’ is really ridiculous…why??????????
did Frank make a bet with someone @ most ridiculous off season moves??????
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
12:08 pm
bostonbravo – maybe you could explain why you consider it so ridiculous
jwilli120
December 9th, 2010
12:15 pm
enough with the lorenzo cain stuff it aint happening!!!!
Glord1
December 9th, 2010
12:19 pm
Anybody think maybe Wren needed to get another lefty because Venters is going to close?
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
12:21 pm
I think it’s pretty well accepted that between Venters and Kimbrel, one will set up and one will close, or they may even share the duties
jwilli120
December 9th, 2010
12:25 pm
I think Diory will do just fine given the chance to play(which
bobby did not give him, bobby also did the same thing to Prado)
the latin ball players seem to take pride and work harder than
their american counterparts to be successful in the bigs, i seem
to have read the same comments a couple of years ago about a
certain 2nd baseman we had (Prado) that i read about Diory give
the guy a chance might be another Allstar sitting right under
our noses.
TomahawkChoppin'
December 9th, 2010
12:34 pm
First of all, whoever said the righty-righty lefty-lefty matchup doesn’t work is completely insane. Just an asinine comment. Sherill is a good pickup. He will be used as a one out specialist early on in the season to build his confidence. He will start to gain said confidence and will be a valuable lefty by the all star break. He costs only 1.2, and in today’s market that’s very cheap. I’m just curious does anyone know how much money we have left now….if any?
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
12:34 pm
There’s only a couple of things wrong with your presumptions, jwilli. First, Diory has never shown any inkling that he can hit ML pitching, while Prado did. Second, Bobby did give Prado the chance to play.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
12:38 pm
Tomahawk, I have not been keeping up with it lately. It was down so low a couple of weeks ago that people were saying if they could trade KK and get a little salary relief, they could have 3.5-5M left. That was before the last couple of signings. So I think they are just about done barring trading off someone.
Wren has given the team some options at OF, restocked the pen and bench, and left the farm intact. Not too shabby despite what a few will say.
Pete
December 9th, 2010
1:12 pm
Only in the loony world of American sports could a mediocre relief pitcher with a 6.7 ERA be offered a $1 million contract. Complete lunacy.
And you wonder why America is going down the tubes economically ??
Absurd.
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
2:12 pm
A. He’s far from mediocre. He has been lights out for three years until he had a down year last year. Yet he still was lights out against LH batting last year as well.
B. $1M is pretty small salary for today’s ballplayers. The market is what the market is. What somebody is worth is defined as what someone will pay them. We may disagree with it, but Werth is worth $126M because someone on a free market decided to pay that.
C. America is going down the tubes because of government spending, not because of sports. Sports as a whole is a healthy and viable commodity.
mark bradley's 70's fro and mustache
December 9th, 2010
3:12 pm
ramblingman
December 9th, 2010
2:12 pm
I agree with you. Plus, he was a allstar a couple of years ago. He is not a bum! Good job Mr. Wren!
Explicit
December 9th, 2010
6:01 pm
Very good signing. It’s these little nitch signings that make very little splash that can be a very big deal for your ballclub. I have been hoping the Braves would give Sherrill a look for years and I am happy to see us sign him even though I had no idea we were interested. The left side of the bullpen looks really good for us now. I consider it a strength where as most clubs have it as a weakness.